And so the Toronto Raptors have finally got some future considerations for Vince Carter in the form of Ed Stefanski, the former New Jersey Nets executive who swindled then Raptors general manager Rob Babcock in that franchise-defining deal that went down nearly seven years ago.

Stefanski was announced formally Wednesday night as the club's executive vice-president of basketball operations, answering to president and general manager Bryan Colangelo.

Stealing Carter for a couple of guys named Williams and Alonzo Mourning's unwillingness to play in Canada may be Stefanski's highwater mark as an NBA executive.

What he'll add to the Raptors won't be known for a while.

But what he represents is another example of how Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is at the very least willing to pay some expensive lip service when it comes to building more competitive teams.

The NBA lockout is on and has been looming for years. Whether or not there is a season played this year the Raptors, coming off a 22-60 clunker, won't be swimming in new season-ticket subscribers.

If there was ever a time for a team to pull in its horns financially it would now.

Moreover MLSE - which owns the Raptors, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the ACC and other baubles - is for sale at present and has been for about seven months, officially, and much longer unofficially.

Companies that are for sale don't typically make investments that have little obvious bottom-line advantages. Businesses that are locking out their employees and not generating any revenue aren't usually looking to hire people.

And yet the Raptors have been in acquisition mode lately. Since the end of last season they've hired Dwane Casey, perhaps the hottest head coaching prospect on the market as the lead assistant on the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.

And while Casey has literally had nothing to do since July 1st - team staff can't contact players - that didn't stop the Raptors from hiring a pair of assistants and retaining four more whose deals had expired. Former coach Jay Triano is still getting paid as is high-priced assistant P.J. Carlesimo.

These aren't huge expenses, but they do signal a franchise that isn't looking to pinch pennies when it comes to personnel.

In another move that was less high profile but arguably more significant, the Raptors hired Alex McKechnie in a new position as director of sports science to oversee all the care and feeding of their high-priced talent earlier in the summer.

McKechnie worked with the Los Angeles Lakers and has been credited by the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Steve Nash and more recently Owen Hargreaves of Manchester City for reviving/preserving their careers.

But with a lockout looming, the Lakers - despite having just signed a 20-year local TV deal worth a reported $3 billion - let McKechnie go along with a wide swath of front office staff in a cost-saving measure in concert with the work stoppage.

"You think of the Lakers and you think they are a great organization," former Lakers assistant general manager Ronnie Lester said. "But if you work inside the organization, it's only a perception of being a great organization. It's probably not a great organization, because great organizations don't treat their personnel like they've done."

In contrast, the Raptors used the lockout to their competitive and karmic advantage.

First order of business, contact Minnesota and ask for Rob..... proceed to discuss a swap of a young gun for his love child, reminding him that Sonny isn't as strong as Joey but is in fact more dense... that should at least flame the fire. What? Sonny isn't on our team? Discuss Ajinca then!

MikeToronto

10-27-2011 06:04 PM

Quote:

In contrast, the Raptors used the lockout to their competitive and karmic advantage.

:yeah: Brilliant. :yeah:

RAPMAN

10-28-2011 01:53 PM

Stefanski is a BC clone. Spend big free money bad, but make wise draft picks. Trading for the draft rights of Richard Jefferson, making draft picks like Kenyon Martin & Jrue Holliday. The Raptors will build through draft, he is the right choice.

jeffb

10-28-2011 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAPMAN
(Post 577245)

Stefanski is a BC clone. Spend big free money bad, but make wise draft picks. Trading for the draft rights of Richard Jefferson, making draft picks like Kenyon Martin & Jrue Holliday. The Raptors will build through draft, he is the right choice.

If we can go into the 2012-13 season with Barnes, Valanciunas, Derozan, Davis,Bayless + capspace I'll be very happy.

box92

10-28-2011 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffb
(Post 577249)

If we can go into the 2012-13 season with Barnes, Valanciunas, Derozan, Davis,Bayless + capspace I'll be very happy.

That would be awesome :D

MikeToronto

10-28-2011 02:48 PM

I am still not sold on Bayless as a starting PG in this league. Not by a long shot.

RAPMAN

10-28-2011 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffb
(Post 577249)

If we can go into the 2012-13 season with Barnes, Valanciunas, Derozan, Davis,Bayless + capspace I'll be very happy.

I was thinking the same thing. But the Andre Drummond kid from UCONN is special.

jeffb

10-28-2011 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAPMAN
(Post 577263)

I was thinking the same thing. But the Andre Drummond kid from UCONN is special.

The last thing we need is another PF.

carp

10-28-2011 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffb
(Post 577267)

The last thing we need is another PF.

are they not calling him a C?

Regardless, he looks much more dynamic than any player on this team so he's not the last thing this team needs.

jeffb

10-28-2011 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carp
(Post 577287)

are they not calling him a C?

Regardless, he looks much more dynamic than any player on this team so he's not the last thing this team needs.

If he's a Center is he more dynamic than Val? If he's listed as a PF is he a better rebounder/shot blocker than Davis and if so by how much? IMO we need a SF or PG a lot more then a Big. He would be the 3rd straight big we draft, which I wouldn't be too thrilled about. But that's just me.

Chiggmo

10-28-2011 05:31 PM

I'd take Drummond over davis and trade davis for somethin else...

RAPMAN

10-28-2011 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffb
(Post 577267)

The last thing we need is another PF.

You draft the best player available. That's why the Raps chose VAL instead of the team's pressing need of a point guard like Kemba Walker or Knight. If the Drummond kid destroys college hoops (AKA Blake Griffin), gotta pick him.

jeffb

10-28-2011 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiggmo
(Post 577292)

I'd take Drummond over davis and trade davis for somethin else...

Do you also trade Bargnani? Or Amir? I would trade Bargnani and Amir before Davis.

jeffb

10-28-2011 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAPMAN
(Post 577300)

You draft the best player available. That's why the Raps chose VAL instead of the team's pressing need of a point guard like Kemba Walker or Knight. If the Drummond kid destroys college hoops (AKA Blake Griffin), gotta pick him.

But we had as much a pressing need at Center as anywhere else. Do we need a 4th PF? If anything, our strongest position by far is PF at this point.

Chiggmo

10-28-2011 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffb
(Post 577302)

Do you also trade Bargnani? Or Amir? I would trade Bargnani and Amir before Davis.

As far as getting a better young SF or PG, you'd likely have to give up Davis, and if we had Drummond it'd be fine.

Bargs can 6th man, thats ok! amir can go too... Not that I hate him or anything.

box92

10-28-2011 06:37 PM

NONE OF THIS MATTERS ANYMORE BECAUSE A DEAL IS NEVER GOING TO GET DONE -_______-

DanH

10-28-2011 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiggmo
(Post 577318)

As far as getting a better young SF or PG, you'd likely have to give up Davis, and if we had Drummond it'd be fine.

Bargs can 6th man, thats ok! amir can go too... Not that I hate him or anything.

If Drummond is BPA, you trade Bargs and Davis for another top-10 lotto pick, a young prospect, and an expiring. Then you have a front court of Val, Drummond, and Amir as the third big, with Alabi hopefully providing backup C minutes.

Unless you have a franchise player in a positional slot, you always take BPA. We don't have a franchise player. So we take BPA and sort the roster out later. Remember, players aren't just players, they are assets.

carp

10-29-2011 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffb
(Post 577303)

But we had as much a pressing need at Center as anywhere else. Do we need a 4th PF? If anything, our strongest position by far is PF at this point.

our weakest position is stud. We have many good young players though, but this team needs best player period.